Airship.



J. N. HIGHLAND. AIRSHIP- APPLICATION TIL ED JULY 21, 1911.

1,055,533, Patented Mar.11,1913.

, v i 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES J v I 7 mm/m9 ATTORNEYS J. N. HIGHLAND.

AIRSHIP. APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1911.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES I/VVE/VTOR fiaa' v 5AM; S ,77 72/ M444 (2/ u/O/uzwgi/amoi I //0Z4ML FM Q S ATTORNEYS J. N. HIGHLAND. AIRSHIP. APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1911.

1 ,055,533. v Patented Mar. 11,1913

3 sums-SHEET a.

Anon/ms proved Airship, of which the following is a PAilENT OFFICE.

JOHN N. HIGHLAND, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

' AIRSHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented B131. 11, 1913.

Application filed July 21, 1911. Serial No. 639,732. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN N. HIGHLAND, a; citizen of the United States, and aresident' of Detroit, in the county of lVayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Imfull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in airships of the helicopter type and it comprises a construction. which includes preferably supporting means in' the form of propeller wheels having extended blades which rotate in opposite directions. The propellers are. mounted one above the other, with their centers inwertical aline' mentwith the center of gravity of the machine; andthe driving shafts are connected -up to mechanism which will permit these appended. theret propellers-to be driven at the samespeed when it is desired to travel straight ahead, or alt-different speeds when it is desired to make a turn. Suitable inechanism is also provided for the purpose of permitting the planes of revolution of the supporting propellers to be tilted to the horizontal, to enable the car to move forward, or backward,

.Other novelfeatures of construction will appear in the accompanying description and be particularly pointed out in the claims Reference is to be had'to the accompany.-

' ing drawings forming a part of this specification, in which the same characters of reference indicate thesame parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofmy improved airship as a whole; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof'yFig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of one of the. supporting postsor legs'attached to the card the airship; Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the differential gearing by nieans of which the supporting propellers are caused to rotate. at the'same or d fferent speeds;

Fig; 5 is a vertical section of the driving connection for the upper propeller; Fig. 6

is a top plan thereof; .ig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section of the driving'connection' for t'helower propeller; and Fig. 8 a top plan thereof, partly in, section.

On the drawings Iliave shown my improved airship as being provided with a car or carriage 1 and above this car is theframework for the propellers 2 and 3, which flight. These supporting propellers are each preferably in the form of a two-bladed propeller, and each of these propellers must a rotate in opposite directions in order to balance each other, as shown on Fig. 2. In operation the blades of these propellers will be on their upper ends which are inclosed in a tubular casing 7 Each of these tubular cas ings 7 contains springs 8 above and below the head 6, and this head, as well as the post- 5, slides up and down, the post 5 passing out through a bearing in the .bottom of. the casinclined in such a way that the thrustwill ing, as shown inFig. The casing 7 is connectedfrigidly to the framework of the car 1, and the posts 5, owing to'the-springs 8, form cushioned supports for the car when it comes to rest upon the ground.

The auxiliary driving propeller this s own as mounted on a shaft 9 carried by tllu car' 1,; and this shaft-His driven byv a sprocket chain 10, operated by a; suitable motor 10. This motor may be'a gasolene engine of almost any type and the crank shaft of. this engine is" connected to a universal shaft to transmit motion to suitable vgearing by,

means of which the two supporting propellers 2 and 3 are rotated.

Thesection constituting'th'e outer end of "I the universal shaft 11 is vertically support ed in the car '1; and on the upper. end of" this section is rigidly mounted, so asto rotatetherewith, a hollow cylindrical'casing" .12. In the opposite Sid of this casing are I formed suitable bearings for a pair of spindies 15, each of which carries a miter gear pinion 13 on its inner end inside oft-he casing 12, and another miter ear pinion 14 8n n its outer endoutside 'of the casing 12.

the outer surface ofthis casing, adjacent the upper and lower edges, are' formed annular grooves constituting racewaysto receive 'a number of. bearing balls 16, these-bearing balls entering corresponding grooves or race-' Ways formed on the internal surf-aces. of a pair of rings 18 which surround the'casing 1'2, 219 shown on Fig. 4. The widtluofeach of these-rings is about equal to half the support the car when the machine is in thickness of the casing 12, and each of the rings 18 has an upper and lowerflange 19,

which flanges form in effect wide grooves on the outside surfaces of these rings to receive the straps of a pair of band brakes 20;

and 21 indicates a pair of annular threaded washers havlng inwardly-pro ectlng flanges to overlap the upper and lower surfaces of the casing 12 adjacent the outer edges of the same, these threaded washers having screwsuch a position thatthe teeth onthese gears will mesh with the outer miter gear pinions' l4; and Lhese gear-forming flanges cooperate with the retaining washers 21 in such a way as to keep each of the rings 18 supported in its proper place by engaging t e end surface and the adjacent annular groove in the periphery of the readily understood. r

Inside the casing 12 and bolted to a shaft casing, as will be 11 is a miter gear 22, this miter gear engaging each of the innerfpinions 13'. A similar miter gear 23 is locatedinside the casing 12,.

this miter gear also engaging the'pinions 13 on opposite sides,and being loosely mounted pear later. The miter gear 23 has an'inte-- on the shaft 11" for a purpose which will-apgral hubf 24 which projectsupward and is mounted in a suitable bearing'carried by the framework of the car 1. This hub is perforated to permitt-he shaft 11 to pass through'it; and this shaft carries on its upper end, beyond the hub 24, a gear wheel 25,, which is keyed thereon. 26 is a similar gear wheel keyed to the outer end of the hub 24; and this hub also has an annular groove which acts as a raceway for hearing balls 27 carried by means of asectional ring bearing 28 supported by the framework of' the car. v

a From the above description it will be clear that thegearing shown and described is similar to an ordinary form of differential gearing such as is commonly employed on automobiles, the shaft 11 being, loose in the casing 12, and mounted, in alinement with the shaft 11'. Motion will be transmitted through the shaft 11 to the, gear 22 and gear 25, and to the gear 23 and gear 26; and so long as the brakes 20 are not applied, the gears 22 and. 23 will otate at the same speeds. Should the bra es to the upper or lower ring he applied, one of the gears 25 or26 will rotate faster than the other one,

bearing 32 in the car shaft 31 surrounds this shaft 32 and 1s con-v as will be understood by those skilled in this art-.- The gear 26 meshes witha'n external gear 29, and the gear 25 meshes with an-internal gear 30. The internal gear 30 is mounted on a hollow shaft 31, which 1'0 tates'the lower propeller 2; and the external gear 29 is rigidwith the main supporting shaft 32, which rotates theupper propeller This shaft 32 is supported in an end 1; and the hollow centric therewith. -A controlling wheel 29" is carriedby the car 1; and this controlling wheel is connected to suitable-actuating rods 29, so that, by turning the wheel to the right or left, one or the other of the band brakes 20 can be applied to the rings 18, as

desired. p

The numeral 33 indicates a revolving frame to whichthe lower propeller 2 is fixed; and this frame has a crossbrace 34 midway .of its length, carrying a pair of supporting blocks These supportin blocks 35 are fastened to a ring 36 which has grooves on its inner and outer faces,

forming raceways for hearing balls 37.--

The upper balls 37 form a suitable antifriction bearing for an outside ring 38, 'WhlCh has an inwardly-extending flange resting upon the top of the ring 36; and the lower balls 37 form an anti-friction bearing for an inner ring 39. This inner ring is, supported in the ring 36 by means of aflange 36 extending inward from a suitable-annulus which has screw -threaded engagement with the ring 36 from below; and this annulus serves also to retain the lower balls 37 in their places. The lower ring 39 has a pair of projections 40 which are 1101- low, and in these projections are secured. the endsof a suitable shifting lever 41 having an operating handle '42.-

The hollow shaft 31 is concentric with the solid shaft 32, as above stated, and it carries on its upper end a hollow head 43, which has ball-bearing engagemerrt shown at 44', 3 with a suitable collar 45, fixed tothe shaft Y,

32.1 The head 43 carries a couple of pivots 46, as shown, these-pivots projecting outward at opposite'ends of a diameter, and

entering hearings in a ring 47 This ring 47 is connected by means of diametrically opposite pivot pins 48, to the ring 36, so that, as the shaft 31 rotates, motion will be transmitted therefrom to the head 43, the

ring 47, the rings 33 and the frame '33.

Resting upon the upper surface of the collar 45 is aperforated plate 49, through which the shaft 32 passes. This perforated plate has four radial arms 50 projecting therefrom; and the outer ends of these-radial arms have a large opening therein togive passage "to supporting rods 51. The

lower ends of these supporting rods 51 have balls formed thereon, and these balls are infthe propellers 2 and 3 and lift the car 1 causing both the propellers to exert a thrust "at the same speed, the'car 1 will be held;

-frame 59 to revolve, but in the opposite closed by suitable sockets 52, integralwith fastened to a cross-beam 58, which supports In the operation of the device the en he and the hollow head 43 on the upper end of propeller 2 around with it.

51; and as these rods 51 have ball andsocket the ring' 38. The upper ends of these rods 51 have similar ball and socket connection with a ring 57-, this ring 57 having pivotal connection by means of diametrically opposite bolts or pins 56, with an inner ring .54, and this inner ring 54 has pivotal connec-. tion by means. of-similar diametrically opposite bolts-55, with acollar 53, rigidly secured to the shaft 32:at its upper end. The ring 57 is secured to blocks similar to the supporting blocks 35, and these blocks are a frame 59 for the upper propellers 3. It will be observedthat the pivot pins 55 and the pivotpins 56 are spaced ninety degrees apart; and the same is true of the pivots 46- and 48 for the lower frame 33. i

will'transmit motion to the gears 25 an 26 and to the shafts 31 and 32. This will rotate above 'the ground. The. gear 25*be'ing in mesh with the internal gear 30, and the gear 26 in mesh with the external gear 29, the shafts 31 and 32 will rotate inopposite directions. This .will rotate the propeller frames 33 and 59- in opposite directions,

downward, so as tolift the car; and therot-ation of oneof these propellers will balance theeffects of the rotation of the other,"so that, as long as the propellers 2'and 3 rotate steady and will not swing around the shaft 31 as a'pivot. The lower frame, 33 will be supported by the collar 4:5 on the shaft 32 the hollow shaft 31. As the shaft 31 rotates, the head 43 will rotate with it, and motion will be transmitted therefrom to the ring 4L7, and through the pivots 48 to the. ring 36. This ring will carry the frame 33 and the In the same manner the solid shaft 32 will rotate the ring 54 and the ring 57, causing the upper direction, as stated above. The upper frame 59 will be supported by means of the rods connection with'thering 38, which has'a ball-beating connection with the ring 36, the upper frame, together with the'rods 51-, will be free to rotate in' the manner required. The rings 36; and 38 move aroundin opposite directions, owing to the ball-bearing'connec tion shown at 37. The adjusting lever frame 41 is so mounted that it can be swung'to thefront'or rear of the car; and since the upper ends of this lever. frame are mounted inthe sockets 40 on the ring33, theswinging of' the lever frame to the. rear will tilt the front edge of the ring 39 forward. As a result, the ring 36 and the frame 33 will be correspondingly tilted, an will the upper swings the lever frame al until it frame 59, owing to the connection between a thrust downward in a slanting direction,

and the horizontal component of this thrust will drive the car 1 forward. The propeller 4t can be used to assist the main propellers 2 and 3, if desired, or it .can be dispensed with. Swinging the lever frame 41in theoppositedirection will of,,course stop the car or drive it. backward. The propellers 2.and 3 can be likewise tilted-inza'direction that is transverse or diagonal" with respect the direction of travel of the airship, by sitting .ing the lever frame in a transverse or diagonal direction. These. adjustments are permitted by reason of the fact that the ring 39. to which the lever frame 41 is connected,

can rotate on account of its ball-hearing connection with the ring 36. Consequently, if

the operator grasps the lever frame 41 and I causes it to. revolve from the position'shown removed" therefrom, that is to say, ifhe occupies ap'osition eitherin front or in the rear-0f the shaft 31, the ring 39 rotating inside the ring 36, the lever frame can be operated to cause the lers 2'and 3 to be tilted .to one side orthe plane of revolution of the propel- .396 in Flgs.v 1 and 2 to a position ninety degrees.

other, and the tilting diagonallycan be effected when the lever frame occupies positions interm'ediate'with respect to the posi- Solong asthe' brake bands 20'are not applied, the shaft 1 1 will transmit motion through the p-inions 13 to the miter gear 22,

'tion which it is shown as occupying in Figs. '1 and 2 and the points named.

and to the miter gear 23', which'is loose on the shaft 11, so as to cause the miter gears 22 and 23 to rotate at the same speed. This I will cause the the same spee Cpropellers 2 and 3 to rotate 'at and the reaction due to the turning force of each will be equal. In consequence, the car 1 will not swing around the lower end of the shaft 1 as' an axis-,qIf

it is desired to turn, one of the brake bands i 20 must be tightenedto'retard the corre-' sponding ring 18. S 1 the shaft ll'rotate in a clockwise direction,- that is,'.from left to right,

lower band 20 be tightenedaround the lower them from the outside, and this motion ions 13 to thegearsges d 25's oweig 'and; thel-lowr 'ropeller2 would The car 1 would tend to lower end of the shaft 1 swing around the as an axls-ih the upp'ose, for'examp le, i

on. Fig. 4, and the rmg. ThlS would causeeach-of the pinions; 14 to turn in a clockwise 'diiectiomvie'win'g revolvefa'ster than the' iigiper-propeller 3. 1,. I

direction of rotation of the upperpropeller planes 3, in this instance, owing to the reaction due to the unbalanced rotary effect of the lower propellers. The car could be turned to the desired extent and thenthe brake band could be released. Tightening the other brake band would give the opposite effect and cause the car to swing in the other direction. r

By means of the above construct on an- I aviator can ascend atonce directly from any,

point where the machine may be located, and the airship will be under complete control at all times. It can be, made to .go forward or back, to the right or to the left, almost instantly; and in case the engine should get out of order, so that the propellers'planes would no longer revolve, the machine would simply descend as a parachute, easily to the ground, owing to the fact that the blades of the upper and lower propellers are reversely arranged, as above described.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claimas new and desire to securebyLetters Patenti v 1. An airship comprising a car, a 'pair' of upright shafts carried by" said-c car and mounted in bearings which are fixed with respect to the framework of the airship, lifting propellers mounted ,upon each of said shafts, motor means carried by the can,

transmission means for each of saidshafts,

' to rotate the same in opposite directions,

means for. connecting each of said lifting propellers tooneof' said shafts to permit said lifting propellers to be tilted in any direction, each of said shafts passingcentrally through each of said tiltable-connecting means, and means connected to each of said tiltable-connecting means to control the same.

2; An airship comprising a car, a pair of upright shafts carried by said car and mounted in bearings fixed -1vit-h. relation to the framework of the airship, motor means carried by the car,- transmission meansfor driving each of said shafts from said motor means in opposite directions, a lifting promeans for said propeller, a ring secured to said mounting means, a second ring having pivotal connection with the first ring to en able the first ring to be adjusted with respect to the second driving means. means for pivotally securing said second ring to the driving means'at points between the points of-pivotal connection of said second ring with the first ring, a plurality of sup porting rods having pivotal connection at their upper ends with the first-named ring, armg pivotally connected to the lower ends of said rods, and a tiltable support comprisadjustable with respect to each other, the ring connected to the lower ends of said rods beingirotatably mounted on said tiltable support, whereby when the support is moved the propeller can be tilted.

4. An airship comprising a pair of supporting propellers, mounting means for each propeller, a member rigidly conneted 'ing a pair of rings likewise mounted to be to each of said mounting means, a second member pivotally connected to each of the first members to enable the first members and propellers to be adjusted, means for 'pivotally connecting each of said secondnamed membersto'a driving shaftto r0- tate said propellers, means for connecting the mounting means for the two propellers rotatably'together, and means connected to the mounting means of one of said propellers'to control the same to adjustsaid propel-lers simultaneously.

A'n airship comprising a propeller forming a supporting means, a hollow shaft .for rotating said propeller, a head on the v.upper end of the hollow shaft, a ball-bearingsupport for said head, a ring having pivotal connection at diametrically opposite- 'points with said head, a second ring having pivotal connection .at diametrically opposite points with the first ring midway between the points of pivotal connection be tween the said first'ring-and said head, a,

framework connected to the-second ring to ing the said propeller to shift the plane .of revolution of the propeller. I 6. An airship comprisinga rotating pro-.

peller forming supporting means, a framework forming a base for the blades of said work having-a head thereon, a ring having pivotal connection with said head at diahaving pivotal connection with the first support the propeller, and means for tilt propeller, a shaft for rotating said frame-v metrically opposite points, a second ring ring at diametrically opposite {points midway between the connecting points of the first ring with said head, said second-named ring being rigidly connected to. said frame, a plurality of supporting rods having pivotal connection at' their 'upper ends with said second-named ring, a ring pivotally connected to the lower ends of said rods, and

a tiltable support on which said last-named ring rotates, whereby, when the said propeller is rota-ted by said shaft, .the plane of revolution of said propeller can be tiltedfi 7. An airship comprising a propeller,

mounting means for said propeller, a ringv the ringconnected to the other ends of said rodsbeing-rotatably mounted on'the tiltable support, wherebywhen the support is moved the'propeller can bev tilted.

8. An airship comprising a pair of propellers, mounting means for each propeller,

amember connected to each of said mount means forthe two propellers rotatably to gether, and means connected to the mount,

'ing means, a second member'pivotally con-.-

nected to each of'thefirst members to enable thefirst members and the propellers to be adjusted, a driving shaft for each of said second members, means for pivotally. connecting said second members to said driving shafts, means for connecting the mounting ing'means of one of said propellers to con trol said propellers simultaneously. a

9..An airship comprising a propeller, a

hollow shaft for rotating said propeller, a head on the upper end )f said hollow shaft,

a ball-bearing support for said'head, a ring having pivotal connection at diametrically opposite-points with .said head, a second .ring having pivotal connection-at diametri- Z- the plane of revolution of the propeller.

,cally opposite points with the first ring he tween the points of connection of thefirst ring and the head, a framework connected to the second ring to support the propeller,

and means for tilting the propeller toshift -10.'An'airship comprismg' a propeller, a

framework forminga base for the blades.

. 'ofithe propeller, fa shaft .for rotating the I framework havingfahead thereon, a rin tween the pointsof-conhction of the-first tion thereof ca bejti1t@ a I l mprising a car, apair of, shafts carried 'by said car, lifting-pro having pivotal 'connectionwith the head at diametrically opposite points, a second ring.

having pivotal connection. with the first ring. at diametrically opposite points bering with the -'head,'-saidsecond-named ring being rigidly conn'ectedfltothe framework,

a plurality of rods'having pivotal connection at their ends-'witli thesecond ring, a

ring pivotally connected .to the other ends vofsaid rods, anaeaaaue support onwhich f the last-named "r ingrotates,- whereby when the propeller 'isfrot'ated, the plane, of revolu 11.- An ,airsh peller's mounted on each of said shafts,motor means carrlecl by the car, transmission means for each of said shafts to rotate the same in opposite directions, means for con necting each of said lifting propellers to one of said shafts to permit said liftin propellers to be tilted in any direction, eac

of said shafts passing centrally through a each of said tiltable'connecting means, and means connected to each of said tiltabl connecting means to control the same; V

{12. An airship comprisingv a ca1", a' pair of shafts carried by said car, motor means carried by said car, transmission means .for

driving each of said shafts from said mo' tor means in opposite directions,alifting propeller:mounted on each.of said shafts,

means forconnecting each'of said. propellers to its-shaft to permit each of said pro-' pellers to be tilted in opposite directions, 'said'shafts passing through thegcenter' of said tiltable connecting means, means joining said tilt able connecting means together to permit the propellers to be tiltedin uni- I son, and mean's'connected to said means to control thejsame" 13. An airship comprising a car, an

crating. shaft rotatably. mounted? within bearings carried'by the car, af'ring pivotally secured at diametrically opposite points to said shaft, a second ring 'pivotally secured at diametrically oppositef'points to the tfirstring, said last-named points lying between the first-named pointsya propeller secured to said second ring, and means secured-to the second ring and extending longitu'dinally of, said shaft for enabling said pro? 'peller to betilted in any direction.

. fl. An airship comprising a car, an operating shaft rotatably mounted within v bearings carried by the car, a ring pivotallysecured at diametrically opposite points to said shaft, a second ring pivot-ally -secured ne'cted to the second ring at one end, and

means rotatably connected to the other, ends fsaid rods 'for enablinggsaid propellento betilted in-a'ay direction. V ,1

15. An airship comprisinga car, an operating shaft rotatably mounted 'withm' bearings which are =fixed with respect 'jto the framework ofithe car, alpropeller mounted upon said operating shaft, 'meansconnectf ing said propeller to .said shaft for permit ting the ropeller to be tilted in, any-direction, said shaft passing through t-he center of. said .tiltable connecting means; and

- meansv connected to said tilting means to move the same'in any direction" to tilt the propeller. y

16. An ai'rslii' tiltable.

at diametrically"oppositepoints to the first ring, said last-named points. lying between the first-named points, 'a-propeller secured ,,to said second ring, a plurality of rods con '-comprisi'n'gt-;a car, an upright rotatable s aft'carried-by said car, and 'mounted in bearings :which are fixed withrespect to the. framework of said airship,

at lifting propeller mounted upon said-shaft, In. testimony whereof I have signed my means for connecting said propeller to said name to this specification in the presence of 10 shaft adapted to permlt the propeller to be two subscribing witnesses.

' tilted in any direction said shaft passing through the center of said tiltable connect- JOHN HIGHLAND ing means, and means connected to the tilt- Witnesses: able connecting means to move the same in GEO. D. MASON,

- any direction to'tilt said propeller. ALBERT O. MCDONALD. 

